In the beginning, pictures were hung on a clothesline strung tree to tree. Fifty-eight years later, the Louisville-based St. James Court Art Show has grown to attract nearly 750 artists displaying art ranging from drawings, prints, and ceramics, to pottery, jewelry, and stained glass. This year, Evansville native Nikki Pritchett will be representing our city with the winning poster design.
The poster design competition has been a long-standing St. James Court Art Show tradition, beginning in 1995, to give designers a platform to actively contribute to the look of the art show, held annually on the first weekend of October in the St. James-Belgravia Historic District.
“My husband and I happened to be going to Louisville to see a show around the time the entries were due,” remembers Pritchett. “It was the perfect opportunity to drop off my canvas so it really pushed me to enter.”
Designer of the January/February 2014 cover of Evansville Living, Pritchett is no stranger to the local art scene; however, this was Pritchett’s first year as a contestant. She was stunned that from 51 entries, her design won.
“I remember getting the call on a Monday morning. I walked outside to take the call as I saw the Kentucky area code. My heart stopped,” says Pritchett. “I could see my daughter peeking through the window to watch for my reaction.”
Pritchett’s winning design features the St. James Court street sign, neighboring homes, and the iconic community fountain. Painted with acrylics on canvas, Pritchett used her signature style made of curvy black outlines, bold colors, with a whimsical and funky finish. Because her style caters to the festival atmosphere, Pritchett says she plans to enter more competitions like this one in the future.
Proceeds from the show fund ongoing grounds upkeep and beautification efforts in the historic Louisville neighborhood and surrounding community. In the heart of historic Old Louisville, the art show is attended by nearly 35,000 people and will be held the weekend of Oct. 3.
For more information about Nikki Pritchett’s art, visit her website at funcityart.com or visit her Etsy shop at etsy.com/shop/StudioOnTheBlvd.
